The History Channel's Pearl Harbor

Starring:Pearl Harbor
Studio: A&E Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
This History Channel production provides an in-depth look at the Japanese attack on the American Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbor on the fateful day of December 7, 1941. The documentary begins by providing a background to the eventual conflict in the Pacific, noting how Japan had been waging a war of conquest in China since the early 1930s. As a power struggle with the U.S. loomed on the horizon, the Japanese built a formidable navy marked by an innovative utilization of carrier-based aircraft. Special attention is given to Admiral Yamamoto, who had studied at Harvard and admired America but vigorously planned the assault on America's naval might. The attack on the morning of December 7 is explained tactically, and films shot at Pearl Harbor during the Sunday morning air raid, including shots of the massive explosion triggered by a bomb hit on the battleship USS Arizona, provide dramatic proof of how devastating the attack was. Personal stories of the battle are recalled in interviews with veterans from both sides. Various revisionist theories about how America had warning of the attack and sacrificed Pearl Harbor are quickly dismissed, and a closing segment focuses on Japanese and American veterans who have reconciled at a reunion (and some American vets who would have no part of that). An additional documentary provides a biography of Admiral Chester Nimitz, who rebuilt the U.S. Pacific fleet following Pearl Harbor, and a bonus program features brief biographies of other American commanders in the Pacific. --Robert J. McNamara
Description
Go beyond the wartime headlines for a revealing, in -depth exploration of World War II's most notorious first strike as experienced by both the Japanese attackers and U.S. forces on the ground. Witness as never before the prelude, onslaught and aftermath of the assault, from Japanese Zero pilots recalling the textbook-perfect execution of their plans, to American servicemen fighting to survive the nightmarish inferno of the battle. With gripping archival combat footage, deeply moving personal accounts and richly detailed historical analysis, it's an unprecedented journey back in time to relive this history-changing day of infamy.

Amazon.com

This History Channel production provides an in-depth look at the Japanese attack on the American Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbor on the fateful day of December 7, 1941. The documentary begins by providing a background to the eventual conflict in the Pacific, noting how Japan had been waging a war of conquest in China since the early 1930s. As a power struggle with the U.S. loomed on the horizon, the Japanese built a formidable navy marked by an innovative utilization of carrier-based aircraft. Special attention is given to Admiral Yamamoto, who had studied at Harvard and admired America but vigorously planned the assault on America's naval might. The attack on the morning of December 7 is explained tactically, and films shot at Pearl Harbor during the Sunday morning air raid, including shots of the massive explosion triggered by a bomb hit on the battleship USS Arizona, provide dramatic proof of how devastating the attack was. Personal stories of the battle are recalled in interviews with veterans from both sides. Various revisionist theories about how America had warning of the attack and sacrificed Pearl Harbor are quickly dismissed, and a closing segment focuses on Japanese and American veterans who have reconciled at a reunion (and some American vets who would have no part of that). An additional documentary provides a biography of Admiral Chester Nimitz, who rebuilt the U.S. Pacific fleet following Pearl Harbor, and a bonus program features brief biographies of other American commanders in the Pacific. --Robert J. McNamara

Description

Go beyond the wartime headlines for a revealing, in -depth exploration of World War II's most notorious first strike as experienced by both the Japanese attackers and U.S. forces on the ground. Witness as never before the prelude, onslaught and aftermath of the assault, from Japanese Zero pilots recalling the textbook-perfect execution of their plans, to American servicemen fighting to survive the nightmarish inferno of the battle. With gripping archival combat footage, deeply moving personal accounts and richly detailed historical analysis, it's an unprecedented journey back in time to relive this history-changing day of infamy.

Customer Reviews:

The Definitive Pearl Harbor Documentary.......2004-10-28

This fine documentary produced by The History Channel describes the events leading up to and the attack on Pearl Harbor in vivid detail. Drawing on testimonies of famous World War II historians such as Richard Frank and Donald M. Goldstein (who co-authored Gordon Prange's definitive "At Dawn We Slept"), this documentary brings to life the events of December 7, 1941. The documentary covers the entire Pearl Harbor attack, as well as the diplomatic negotiations between Japan and the United States. Japanese and American survivors give their input as well, from Japanese pilots recalling the textbook-perfect execution of their attack to American servicemen fighting to survive the nightmarish inferno of battle.

I believe that oral history is the best way to learn about history or a specific historical event, and this documentary contains excellent testimonies from both Japanese and American survivors. The Japanese describe what it was like to actually travel all the way across the Pacific undetected to make their attack, while the Americans describe the horrors of battle, from bodily injuries to the death of a friend, or being trapped inside a ship and given up for dead when they were really alive. These testimonies are one of the high points of the documentary.

I was also impressed with the computer generated rendition of the sinking of the U.S.S. Arizona. The graphics are excellent, and I learned a great deal more about the loss of the Arizona from this rendition. For example, the rendition shows that the first bomb that struck the Arizona did relatively little damage, but the second bomb is the one that ultimately destroyed the ship.

Also included in this fine set is a documentary of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. From his early days growing up in Texas until the outbreak of World War II, this video looks at the life of perhaps America's greatest military commander. Included is a narration of all of the major campaigns of the Pacific War and how through his excellent choices of subordinates, Nimitz's navy managed to destroy the Japanese fleet.

I highly recommend this fine video set. The actual combat footage is first-rate, the narration is superb, and the input from both historians and survivors make the documentary quite enjoyable to watch. This is a fine set and includes all of the essential information on the attack on Pearl Harbor and our ultimate victory over the Japanese.

Great Documentaries On The Pacific War.......2004-09-26

This is a DVD set which is quite well done, but I find the packaging a bit misleading. There are three DVDs included, only one of which is specifically about Pearl Harbor, the other two are biographies of Douglas MacArthur and Chester Nimitz. Obviously these two figures are crucial to an understanding of the Pacific war, but are really tangential to Pearl Harbor. This was the sole reason that I deducted a star from the package.

The Pearl Harbor DVD is quite well done and combines historical and contemporary footage and interviews with some rather early generation computer graphics to produce a slick and powerful telling of the story of the Pearl Harbor attack and its context in history.

The biography of MacArthur is fascinating. I have always found MacArthur to be a brilliant but arrogant General, and this DVD reinforced that appraisal. This production helped me appreciate some of MacArthur's strengths more than I had before, but also helped me understand the psychological side of him which led to his aloofness and arrogance.

The Nimitz biography is wonderful. I have always regarded Nimitz as the greatest of the Pacific commanders. I think Halsey was the better battlefield commander, but Nimitz was an amazing motivator and organizer, and a great, compassionate man. This DVD made me appreciate Nimitz even more that I previously did, and I think anyone interested in naval history would love it.

In total, this is a very good production, with excellent use of archive and current footage and with insightful interviews. I think anyone interested in World War Two would be thrilled with this set, even if it isn't exclusively about Pearl Harbor.

A fantastic DVD.......2002-07-24

This DVD set is great. It has excellent footage of the attack on Pearl Harbor and there is interviews with people who survived the attack and there is even interviews with some Japenese fighter pilots who bombed the ships. It starts at 1939 when the USA decide not to enter The Second World War and goes through the attack on Pearl Harbor and ends at today showing the USS Arizona Memorial. The Set also has a bounus disc with a lot of Pearl Harbor facts as well. This is an amazing DVD and anyone who is interested in USA history should buy it.

War in the pacific.......2001-10-21

A good documentary, but with all of the Pearl Harbor documentary material out there, why did the creators choose to include a documentary DVD on Chester Nimitz? This set should have been called "War In The Pacific" or something. But, the history is accurate and the footage is good. I would recommend this. It would have been great if they had one DVD about the attack, one dvd about Kimmell, and one DVD about Yamamoto. That would have made this collection stand out from the others! History Channel, ARE YOU READING THIS?

A little misleading.......2001-05-09

The first disc in this offering rates five stars for being an absolutely fantastic documentary. However, the second disc is about Admiral Nimitz and not about Pearl Harbor itself. Also, the bonus program offered is not "Blunders Of Pearl Harbor" but something about leaders of the Pacific theater, again, not about Pearl Harbor itself. I wanted a thorough documentary on Pearl Harbor, which I got on disc one. The second disc seems thrown in haphazardly. The item description, however, didn't mention the Nimitz material on the second disc and got the bonus program wrong entirely. I would've liked a more thorough, not to mention accurate, description before making my purchase.

Japan Under American Occupation (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

Japan Under American Occupation (History Channel)

Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Japan's War in Colour
Burmese Harp - Criterion Collection
Korea - The Forgotten War (History Channel)
Decisive Battles of the Ancient World (History Channel)
Japan: Samurai, Geisha and Technology

ASIN: B000FKP0ZK
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Description

The Japanese surrender at the end of WWII allowed U.S. troops to peacefully enter as an occupation force. What they found and how they transformed their former enemy is told through the work of a team of cameramen who recorded it all on color film. They were among the first to witness the devastation wrought by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They also captured on film the first free elections and the birth of Japanese democracy. It was a remarkable journey!

USS Bowfin - Pearl Harbor Avenger (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

USS Bowfin - Pearl Harbor Avenger (History Channel)
Starring: Uss Bowfin-Pearls Harbor Avenger
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( U ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

USS Midway - The Hero Ship (History Channel)
USS Arizona to USS Missouri: From Tragedy to Victor
The Battleship USS Missouri
Flyboys (Widescreen Edition)
Flags of Our Fathers (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000FBFYZ0
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Description

The submarine USS Bowfin made nine patrol runs during WWII, all packed with hair-raising adventures. In the course of sinking some 175,000 tons of Japanese shipping, the Bowfin faced an increasingly sophisticated Japanese anti-submarine campaign and endured vicious depth bomb and surface attacks. The boat aided guerrillas in the Philippines, hunted in wolfpacks, rescued downed flyers, and scourged the Japanese throughout the war under command of various colorful skippers. The Bowfin has been gorgeously restored and is berthed next to the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor. This is her glorious story.

Face Off - Yamamoto vs. Nimitz (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

Face Off - Yamamoto vs. Nimitz (History Channel)

Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Battle of Midway - Documentary
Flags of Our Fathers (Widescreen Edition)
Midway (Collector's Edition)
Victory at Sea - The Legendary World War II Documentary (History Channel)
The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B000F6ZBVC
Release Date: 2006-04-25

The Last Days of World War II - A Nation's Countdown To Victory

Average customer rating:

The Last Days of World War II - A Nation's Countdown To Victory

Manufacturer: NEWVIDEO
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Collectibles | Categories |
Product Features:

Interactive Menus
Scene Selection

ASIN: B000KOSOMW

Product Description

On September 9, 1945, the deadliest war the world has ever known formally came to an end. Four months earlier, the Third Reich had suffered its final, crushing defeat. On the horizon stood a new type of conflict the Cold War. THE LAST DAYS OF WORLD WAR II: Relive the unrelenting Allied advance through Europe that finally crushed the seemingly invincible Third Reich. Witness the final acts of the Nazis and the climax of the Pacific War and experience the unprecedented judgments of the Nuremberg trials.

Battlefield Diaries - Episode 2: Raid at Cabanatuan

Average customer rating:

A gift to a concerned relative.

Battlefield Diaries - Episode 2: Raid at Cabanatuan

Manufacturer: Discovery
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Battlefield Diaries - Episode 1: Al Khafji
Battlefield Diaries - Episode 3: Lam Son
Battlefield Diaries - Episode 4: Ambush in Iraq
Battlefield Diaries - Episode 8: Kiowa Down
Battlefield Diaries - Episode 5: Last of the Buffalo Soldiers

ASIN: B000KGGNB4
Release Date: 2006-12-01

Customer Reviews:

A gift to a concerned relative........2007-06-27

I have not viewed the DVD, I sent it to Michigan to a high school friend, who is a cousin of one of the POWs rescued in the raid: James Hildebrand.

Perhaps as amazing...a kindergarten/high school classmate of mine, is related to one of the U.S. Army Rangers killed, participating in the raid: Roy Sweezy

The Last Days of World War II - USS Eagle 56: Accident or Target? - Last Secrets of the Axis

Average customer rating:

The Last Days of World War II - USS Eagle 56: Accident or Target? - Last Secrets of the Axis

Manufacturer: The History Channel
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Collectibles | Categories |
Product Features:

Interactive Menus
Scene Selection

ASIN: B000KOQOKQ

Product Description

On September 9, 1945, the deadliest war the world has ever known formally came to an end. Four months earlier, the Third Reich had suffered its final, crushing defeat. On the horizon stood a new type of conflict the Cold War. USS EAGLE 56: ACCIDENT OR TARGET?: In April 1945, an American boat off the New England coast towing a target for torpedo bombers suddenly exploded, killing all but 13 of its 63 officers. Was it an accident or a final act of aggression? LAST SECRETS OF THE AXIS: Examine the remarkable historical confluence that led to the German-Japanese alliance and discover how one German geography professor played a key role. Also, learn about Japan's intent to unleash biological warfare on the California coast!

Average customer rating:

History Channel persents Pearl Harbor

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Collectibles | Categories |
Product Features:

History Channel

ASIN: B000HFQ33G

Pearl Harbor: The 60th Anniversary DVD & Book

Average customer rating:

Pearl Harbor: The 60th Anniversary DVD & Book

Manufacturer: The History Channel
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Product Description

Hardcover book. 2 DVDs.

Discovery Channel : Unsolved History - Myths of Pearl Harbor

Average customer rating:

Discovery Channel : Unsolved History - Myths of Pearl Harbor

Manufacturer: Discovery Communications Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Product Description

Unsolved History is history the way it was! Through detailed examination of archeological and forensic evidence, existing photographs, artifact examination, and carefully selected interviews from eyewitnesses and experts events are reconstructed and historical questions are finally answered. Every American knows the date December 7, 1941 the morning the Japanese Imperial Navy launched a massive attack on Pearl Harbor. What most people don't know is that the first shots of the battle were fired by an American naval vessel, nearly an hour before the air attack started! The ship's target? One of Japan's four secret weapons the so-called "midget? subs two-man vessels designed to cripple U.S. ships from below, while Japanese bombers rained fire from above. Examine the role these midget subs played in the Pearl Harbor attack, the technology and strategy behind the subs and the recent discovery of one sub sunk outside the harbor that morning. Accompany marine archaeologists on a dive as they get their first look at the sub and watch as a World War II vet gets his second look 61 years later. Forensic photo analysts use state-of-the-art technology to determine whether a controversial photo taken from a Japanese plane reveals a mysterious fifth sub firing on American ships inside Pearl Harbor that morning. Could the Americans have been warned in time to defend themselves against the Japanese attack?

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Requiem for a Dream - Director's Cut

The Nutty Professor 2 - The Klumps

Amnesia [2004]

DVD: Mannequin/Kansas

Sharky and George Teil 7